Molding machine for manufacturing building blocks



Jam. 10, 1950 J. o. SPRIGGS ET AL 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet l 66 mnw O. M E: E 5:: E E m m mm o u M m d T F I I M IH J HW\ Fm 5:5: a ow h o w ma f V cm m d m m fzwfihmw m. u 0 om u n zoFumma n d n n u u N u m n Jan. 10, 1950 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July 22, I947 J. o. .s'PRlees El AL 8 Sheds-Sheet 2 JAMES o. SPRIGGS FREDERICK HARRIS Jan. 10, 1950 .1. o. SPRIGGS ET AL.

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS a Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 22, 1947 JAMES o. SPRIGGS FREDERICK HARRIS Jan. 10, 1950 10. SPRIGGS ETAL 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July 22, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 4 7 '77ZZ II- r F JAMES O.SPR\6GS FREDEPJCK HARR\S Jan. 10, 150' J. o. SPRIGGS ET AL. 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Llil'll IIHI I m, FT

.b 00 pg I Q 3 nll I N Ln :3! 0 3% m Q 5 m N 'umhlun B 5 WI i l gYWQ/Wt/OD JAMES O. SPRIGGS FREDERICK HARRIS Jan. 10, 1950 v J. o. SPRIGGS ET AL 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed July 22, 1947 i 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 awe/whom JAMES O. SPRKIGS FREDERICK HARRIS Jan. 10, 1950 J. o. SPRIGGS ET AL MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed July 22, 1947 iris- Lame/Mow,

JAMES O. SPRIGGS FREDERICK HARRIS Jan 10, 1950 J. o. SPRIGGS ET AL, 2,494,212

MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS 7 Filed July 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 grwe/rvbo'm,

JAMES o. SPRIGGS FREDERICK HARRIS Patented Jan. 10, 1950 MOLDING MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING BUILDING BLOCKS James 0. Spriggs and Frederick Harris, Washington, D. 0.

Application July 22, 1947, Serial No. 762,640

9 Claims. 1

quence, requiring large accelerations of various parts of the machinery and of material before and after forming the raw blocks, with consequent loss of time due to superfluous motion. Machine members of large size as well as a large power source are required. This type of machine is subject to faulty operation and excessive wear because of the inherentl complex nature of the mechanisms required for producing the motions involved. Further, this type of construction is, of necessity, difficult to manufacture, resulting in high production costs, and requires frequent servicing.

In addition, prior machine present blocks for off-bearing and stacking in an inefficient manner due to the fact that relatively few blocks are available for ofi-bearing at one time. The filling of a drying rack with molded blocks in this manner requires a greater number of handling operations and increases the probability of breakage of the green blocks.

Accordingly, it is an object of our invention to provide a fully automatic block molding machine of novel and simple construction capable of a high production rate wherein the blocks are molded while in smooth continuous motion, with no intermittent action, or indexing, in the molding cycle from hopper to conveyor, but having novel safety features operable in the event of abnormal operation of the machine.

It is another object of our invention to provide a novel and effective vibratory feed and compacting means of simple and economical construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine capable of adjustability to predetermine the size of blocks produced and also capable "of compensatory charge adjustment to correct for changes in consistency or other characteristics of a the plastic or cementitious mix fed from the hopper.

A still further object of the invention is to so devise our machine as to efiect a sufiiciently slow physical motion of the blocks during the molding cycle as to substantially eliminate any problem of breakage of the parts of the machine or of the green blocks, and yet achieve a very high production rate.

It is an even further object of our invention to provide a machine capable of selective operation as to the type and size of pallets and mold boxes used, to the end that either solid or cored blocks of various shapes and sizes may be produced.

We accomplish the above objects by providing a continuously rotating mold table carrying a plurality of angularly spaced mold boxes in conjunction with a pallet feed device, a hopper, a vibratory tamping mechanism and a conveyor system. Means including push rods and a camare em.- ployed to sequentially actuate each pallet after it is received in its respective mold. The functions of the several parts are so timed as to receive a predetermined charge in each mold box in turn as it passes below the hopper. The vibratory mechanism is so arranged as to efiect vibration of the mix in the hopper adjacent to the discharge end so as to insure proper fluidity for flow of the mix; the same vibratory mechanism effects vibration of a trowel plate on the top of each block as it passes from below the hopper outlet. Simultaneously with trowel plate vibration on the top of a block, the associated pallet is forced upwardly from below so as to compress the block against the vibrating trowel plate. The degree of compression is adjustable, without stopping the machine, to compensate for variations in mix and to suit various operating conditions. Ultimately, and without interruption of its motion about the axis of the mold table, the molded blocks and their respective pallets are raised above the table level and tangentially engage a conveyor belt devised to off-bear each block in turn, the blocks then resting on their respective pallets and being removed therewith from the conveyor belt for ouring and drying.

A detailed description of our invention now follows with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a developed layout which illustrates diagrammatically the several stages of the molding details of the hopper and vibrator arrangement;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing details of the cam and follower construction; j

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the relationship between the belt conveyor and the pallets for offbearing the molded blocks;

Fig. 7 is antelevational view diagrammatically illustratingthe relationship of the pallet pusher rods and the conveyor belt during the off-bearing cycle;

Fig. 8 is a section in elevation of aportionbi the pallet dispensing magazine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of another portion of the pallet dispensing magazine;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectioniin elevationzof the gear drive for the pallet dropping mechanism showing the timing switch and safety detent;

Fig. 11 illustrates an interchangeable cam. member a'dapted 'for selective use-to 'predeterm'ine the height of the blocks;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view showing protec- "tive fingers and the pallet dropping mechanism as' 'seen from the'leit 's'ide in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 shows the eleotricalcircuit for the machine comprising'the pallet dropping arrange- *ment protective fingers and protective :detent with'relay, and motor and vibrator wiring;

Fig. I' l is-a sectional view in elevation ofa mold box with individual'vfbrator, constituting a medification of our invention;

Fig. "15 shows the electrical circuit by 'which thein'clividual vibrators of-Fig. 14 are'sequentially operated during rotationofthe machine.

With reference to Figskl, '2 and 3, ourinvention comprises a circular mold table -lD rotatably *mounted so as toeifect a turntable. The turntable "has a plurality of radially disposed mold pockets; i.'e., mold "boxes H'removably secured to "the table, =angularly spaced therearound and supported from below on respective channel membersi-la-secured to a 'hu'b Hb (Fig.8) The -'tur'ntableis rotatably journalled by means pi ball "bearing 12a and roller bearing 42b to acentrally Hocated stationary shaft is supported at itslower extremity by a suitable base "frame F4. Hub i it "is-keyed'to sleeve [2: Appended-to the'lower-"extremity ofthe sleeve "[2 is a'gear I 5. Meshing "with gear I5 is spur gear Ilia and ratchet L521, driven by motor 1 1* for counter-clockwise rotation of the'turntablelfl. It ls-obvious other suitable means" of rotation could be employed.

As shown, the mold pockets =l'i "are designed, =in this case, for'themanufacture or =cored cinder blocks B, orth'e like, and to this end are provided 'W'ithbplurality of vertically extending hobs 'm i'ofselectable size andshape; secured, as"by*bolts, to channel'members-l in on which they-rest. The

hobs provide suitably'shaped air "spaces'inthe "finished molded product.

*Fixed to the top of the centrally located shaft I3, is an automatic allet storage and feed "mechanism, indicated ingeneral at I SQ-Fig. 2. "'The details and operationo'f thisme'chanism will be given in full hereinafter, but for the present it 1s "s fl ci nt to statethat the-"same" operates to *deposit pallets of selectabl'e*'size="-andshapeiinto the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder --"during the circuit of theturntable, ithe pallets T7; mechanical.

tends downwardly, opening in a mouth at 23 (Fig. 4) directly above the upper face of the turntable Ill. The clearance between the mouth 23 of the hopper and the turntable is as close as per- 5 missible in order to prevent the mix from spilling out onto the turntable. The radial dimension of the hopper 2| measured from the center of theturntabeliatits mouth 23is substantially the same as the width of the openings defining the 10 mold pockets H.

Appended to the trailing edge of the hopper 2l,;.as'defined by the motion of the turntable l0, and adjacent to its mouth 23, is a vibrator mechanism 24 which may be either electrical or This mechanism shown is a spring loaded electro-magnetic type now readily avail- .able on themarket. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the Vibrator mechanism 24 is carried by a "suitable plate member 25. Member 25 is an mechanically fastened at its upper longitudinal edge'to the side of the. hopper, and extends'angularlydownwardly to-a point just above the turn table. The lower longitudinal edge of member 25 is mechanically fastened by-means of a trowelli'ngplate 25 to the adjacent edge of thehopper mouth2'3. 'Trowelling plate26 may extend either parallel to the 'face of the turntable or at a-slight angle thereto, and "is securely fastened to the hopper and to plate member .26 by means of end plates 21.

In operation, the'vibrator mechanism 24 has a resultant iorce'which is normal to the angular *supportmemberifi. This-resultantforce has a horizontal combonent'aoting on thesides of the hopper, partly through a' rod Y 28 secured'therein,

adequate supply ofmix to the mold pockets as the same-pass under thehobper in the circuit of the turntable. This'resultant force alsohas a downward vertical component which acts on plate member '26 to cause the same to concurrently vibrationally tampand trowel the mix in the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder during the circuit of the turntable. It will be noted that the angle at wh ch the vibrator is uncunted relative to the turntable. determines both the vertical and horizontal forces of the vibrator. Consequently, if the compacting action provided by theplate member is to be increased or decreased, the angle of the vibrator support may be adjusted accordingly by any suit- 'able means which will be evident to persons skilled in-the art.

It will be appreciated that ,therate of vibration of the mechanismld should be sufficiently high relative .to therate of rotation ofthe turntable .asto avoid any gouging .action on the blocks.

Disposed beneath the turntable and supported by a frame 29 (Figs. 2, and 3) is a circular wall 29a supporting arcamtrack 3i! for actuating pairs gent-rollers 31a and .1 associated with respective mold:box es-l l (Figs. ,1, 3 and .5). Each pair of rollers is arranged to straddle the tracked-in 'rerticalrrelation as shown. Ordinarily, rollers ..3ia engage1track 3Q, rollers} l I) being idle (Fig. 5)

i-l'oiexcept where sharp incline of the track causes cengagement between the underside thereof and rsaid-grollers .13 l brto cause positive downward disipglacementrandrwhereuthe. rollers; pass beneath the ,hopper. The pairs of rollers are journalledrto flazmembersttazsecnredto:yokese35 which. in turn are secured to sleeve members 37 which are slidably arranged on vertical guide shafts 40, being splined thereto as shown in Fig. 6. The vertical guide shafts 40 (Fig. 3) are fixedly secured to respective channel members Ila and thus to mold boxes H at their upper ends and to a ring 43 at their lower ends. The rin 43 serves to maintain vertical alignment of the guide shafts and rotates therewith about the axis of the turntable.

Each yoke member 35 carries four rectangularly disposed pusher or lift rods 45 which are adapted to reciprocate vertically in respective mold boxes. The pallets 20 are deposited on the upper extremities of rods 85 and descend (Fig. l) as the turntable rotates, by virtue of followers 3Ia and b engaging cam track 30.

Cam wall 29a is provided below hopper 2| with a vertically adjustable cam plate 48 having height determing screw means 50 and position kick means 52 riding in slots 55 (Figs, 1, 3 and 5). Cam plate 48 has a cam surface 51 adapted to engage the lower followers 3 II) as they pass below the hopper, thus determining the level at which respect ve pallets will be held in their corresponding mold boxes during the filling process in passing below the hopper, as well as determining the degree of compression exerted on blocks B as will be readily understood from Figs. 1 and 4; follower 3Ia being idle at the time 3 II) is riding on surface 5!.

Cam surface 30 is provided with a removable section, or shim (Fig. 11) of selected vertical dimension V. Thus the final height of the blocks B is determined by the height of the shim, as

will be understood from Fig. 4, since the upper follower 3Ia rides on section 60, roller 3I b being idle at that time.

A conveyor system, generally indicated at 63 (Fig. 1), completes the final phase of the molding cycle. As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and '7, the conveyor system comprises moving belts 65 supported on channels I51 and maintained in motion by a motor I0. The spacing of channels 61 is such as to fit between the rods 45 (Fig. 7) to off-bear the pallets carrying the blocks tangentially relative to the turntable. The dwell of cam track 30 below the inner end of the conveyor system at 30a (Figs. 1 and '7) is such as to hold the pallets slightly above the belt level, whence follows a relatively sharp drop 3th to deposit the pallets and blocks on the belt and at 390 to withdraw the rods below the table level so as to avoid interference with the conveyor as the table rotates. It will be appreciated that the underside of cam position 30b engages rollers 3Ib so as to ensure positive and rapid downward withdrawal of rods 45 to avoid interference with the conveyor structure during continued rotation of the turntable. The dwell in cam track at 3011 holds the rods 45 at the appropriate height to receive the next pallet 20.

located at suitable points along their length in order that the spacing between the end retaining members H and 13 may be adjusted to accommodate various s zes of pallets. Secured to and supporting the side frames 11 and I9 is a yoke member 83 (Fig. 10) which is rotatively attached to shaft I3 by means of a collar 84 to which it is welded, which collar is frictionally clamped between plate 84a and flange 84b. Flange 84b is on the upper end of a sleeve 84c keyed to post I3. Adjustable screws 84d are provided to determine the frictional hold on collar 84. In normal operation magazine I 9 is held fixed, with respect to the rotating table, by the frictional engagement provided by this structure, but may rotate under certain circumstances as hereinafter described under "Safety features, for the purpose of avoiding breakage should a pallet become jammed between it and the rotating table. Rotating with sleeve I2 is a gear 85. Meshing with gear 85 is bevel gear 8'! which rotates shaft 90. Shaft is journalled at one end through a universal coupling 93a to yoke member 83 and connected at its other end, through a universal coupling 93b, to a lead screw 95 (Fig. 9). Lead screw 95 is suitably journalled at each end and attached to side frame I! and is cut with right hand threads 91 along its extremity nearest the center post and with left hand threads 99 alongits extremity nearest the periphery of the mold plate I9. Engaging the right and left hand threads 9'! and 99,

respectively, of the lead screw are a pair of gears I02 and IE4. Gears I02-and I04 drive a pair of shafts I0! and I09, respectively, which are journalled, by means not shown, in parallel relation to the transverse axis of the reta ning members I1 and I9. Each of the shafts I01 and I09 drives an elongated star shaped gear H2 and IM, respectively, each having a number of teeth equal to the number of mold pockets I I, and which support and feed the pallets 20 by engaging the ends thereof. The star gears have a tooth length substantially equal to the width of the largest pallet with which use of our machine is contemplated so as to have marginal engagement substantially along the entire pallet edge.

For reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, gears 85 and B! (Fig. 10) are cut so that one revolution of the former causes n revolutions of the latter; when n is the number of mold pockets I! formed in the mold plate it. Lead screw 95 and gears I 02 and I04 are so cut that n revolutions of the lead screw causes one revolution of shafts I01 and I09.

Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that star gears H2 and II 4 rotate in reverse directions. With the aforementioned gear ratio between gears 81 and 89, one revolution of the mold plate It causes one revolution of the star gears.

As shown in Fig. 8, the pellets are constructed with motor grooves or other protuberances whereby they are suitably spaced to permit easy engagement with the teeth of the star gears. Accordingly, it will be understood that when the elements described above are properly related with respect to the location of any mold pocket II, a pallet 2'0 will presumably be dropped into each mold pocket as it passes below magazine I9 as the turntable rotates. However, in the operation of depositing the pallets 29 into the mold pockets, small manufacturing variations prevent exact synchronism between the movement of the mold plate I0 and the gears and shafts, etc., of magazine I9. Accordingly, a pair of solenoid operated lever arms IE5 and H8 are pivotally attached by pivot pins IZta and I20b respectively, to the end retaining members of the magazine in any suitable manner. The pallets are supported on arms H0 and I I8 after being dropped by the star gears before final deposition to the mold pockets, as illustrated in Fig. .8, .by'the phantomrallet 120a,. Related t arms :llfi andflllll are respective solenoids 52,2 and Hill, having plungers 122a and 124a loosely connected to arms -l 6 and 1 l8. Upon energize.- tion, the plungers tip thearms to release the pallet :hold thereon which then drops into a mold box below. As best shown in Fig. 8, the pallets fall only to the extentnecessary to come to rest on the upper ends of rods -45, which ends are supported by virtue of the action or" the cam track 39, so that the top surface of the pallet willl be l'iush with the table surface in rest position, as also shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of energization the solenoids at the proper time a cam-operated switch, indicated general at 13 U,1Flg.,10, is provided. Reierring :now to Fig. '10, it will be seen that the .cam operated switch 130 comprises a cam 32 which is ,rotative with pinion 31. Riding on the .cam 4:32 is affollower I34 which operates a lever operated switch {I36 of the type, for instance, commercially known as a micro-switch. Ac- .tuation of the switch ,I 36 energizes the solenoids. During each rotation of the cam, switch I36 is closed. Therefore, due to the speed relation be- ;tween thecam 132 and the star wheels M2 and :l I 4, a high-degreeof accuracy in the control over the final deposition of the pallets in the mold ,pockets i l' is effected.

Safety features At :times the pallets .will .drop unevenly into the pockets, whereby they may become wedged in the .mold pockets. To prevent occurrences of this nature, the actionof the star gears H2 and IM and thecamoperated switch 186 is set so that the pallets are :dropped to the turntable l iustaheadof the-mold pockets, and are dragged .into themold pockets byione or-more elongated resilient fingers I40 tEig. .12) attached to the trailing edge of the magazine as the same passes under the magazine. The lower edges, 142 of the fingers 14,0 are-disposedso as to ride just above thesuriaceof .theturntable iii. Should the pallet .fail to enter the mold box properly, fingers I48 are flexed outwardly, thereby actuating the switch I44 which is-similar to switch I36. Actuation of switch J44 operates to sound an alarm such ,as .by impressing a suitable voltage to abell M .(Eig. -13) and at the sametime serves to ,de-energize drive motor 1.! through a motor relay 1.48.

Tit-will be appreciated that the finger arrangement described abovemay be vused on a machine wherein the solenoid and arm structure is omitted. In .such case the timing of the star gears and turntable may be set so as to drop the pallets ahead of the mold pockets to the .same extent as effected .by the solenoids and arms.

Should a pallet 'becomejammed between the turntable Ill and the ,magazine is, sufficient force will be encountered to overcome the frictional grip on ,colar 34 .(Ei thus yoke v83,, including the magazine, .willswing with th l thereby avoiding breakage. Furthenoollar 84 is ,provided with aslidable pinll fifi ,normally protruding int aglfoove ,lr53lin post l3. The groove and pin are shaped .So that rotationof yoke 83 with .respect.to post 13 will force t .e pin outwardly to actuate aswitch L55, connected in the circuit showninFig. .13, to break the motor circult.

In Fig. :14 weshnwhow .lourm'lnrention -may b modified tothe extentof. providing anjhdivid al vibrato 4 for ea h m ld box. t th v end hat the ock there n s bra d du ing a p e termined sector of the course of rotation of the table from hopper to conveyor. Fig. 15 shows the manner in which the duration of vibration may be determined by the :use or contact segments 158a and [60b carried by insulating bands 162, which bands are stationary.

Although we have shown and described only certain specific embodiments of the present invention, we are -;fully aware of the many modifications possible thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that we intend that the disclosure herein be taken for :the purpose of illustration only and hot ass definition :of the limits of the invention.

What .is claimedis;

1. In an artificial building stone molding ma.- chine, a rotating turntable having a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit ofsaid turntable for the insertion of a pallet ineach.oi said mo1d pockets, hoppermeans locatedrat a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means cooperatively associated with said hopper means v,ifor vibrating the mix in the mold pockets byway of the mixinthe hopper, said vibrator means including a trowel plate, said trowel plate extending substantially parallel to the upper face of said turntable and operative to concurrently vibrate and trowel the mix ,inthe mold pockets as thesamepass thereunder, and meansfor dischargin th finish d molded. p1 uct comprising a conveyor means situated at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turn.- table, a plurality of lift rods supported bya yoke memb r nden e ns t e bot om of ea h o S mcldnockets ,forsuppcrtinsthepa l t a d p as c thereon, a. cam trackdisposed beneath the turntabl a r ller a tached o sa d yoke member and adapted to ride onsaid cam track during the circuitof said turntable said camtrack being arranged to force said lift rods gradually upwardly in the mold pockets, whereby the pallet bearingthevfinished molded product is raisedout ofthe mold pocket at the location of the conveyor means, and to thereafter lower the lift rods downwardly to deposit the pallet bearing the finished moldedproduct on the conveyor means.

2. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, hopper means located at apredetermined point in the circuit oi-said turntable operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means cooperatively associated with said hopper-means for vibrat ng the mix in said mold pockets byway of the mix in the hopper, said vibrator means including a vibrating trowel plate extending substantially parallel to the upper;face of said tur-ntable and operativeto concurrentlyvibrateangl trowel the mix in the mold pockets -asthesame pass thereunder, and means {or disoharg ng thefinished molded product com-prising a plurality of lift rods supported by .a-yolte member and-entering the bottom of each of 'said mold pockets for supporting the palletand plastic mix thereon, ,a cam -track disposedbeneath the ;turntable, aroller appended to sa d yo m mbera-ndadant d t0 deo said entred; durin vthe:e rrnit.o said urnt ble.

said cam track bein arran to force id lift rods graduallyupwardly in the mold pockets, whereby the pallet bearing the finished molded product is raised out of the mold pocket at a predetermined point in the circuit of the turntable.

3. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having, a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, hopper means located at a predetermined point in the circuit oi-said turntable operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means including a vibrating trowel plate disposed substantially parallel to the upper face of said turntable operative to concurrently vibrate and trowel the mix in the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder, and means for discharging the finished molded product comprising a conveyor means situated at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable, a plurality of lift rods supported by a yoke member and entering the bottom of each of said mold pockets for supporting the pallet and plastic mix thereon, a cam track disposed beneath the turntable, a roller attached to said yoke member and adapted to ride on said cam track during the circuit of said turntable, said cam track being arranged to force said push rods gradually upwardly in the mold pockets, whereby the pallet bearing the finished molded product is raised out of the mold pocket at the location of the conveyor means, and to thereafter lower the lift rods downwardly to deposit the pallet bearing the finished molded product on the conveyor means.

4. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, hopper means located at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means cooperatively associated with sa d hopper means for vibrating the mix in said mold pockets by way of the mix in said hopper, said vibrator means including a vibrating trowel plate extending substantially parallel to the upper face of said turntable and operative to concurrently vibrate and trowel the mix in the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder, and means for discharging the finished molded product comprising a conveyor means situated at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable, a plurality of lift rods supported by a yoke member and entering the bottom of each of said mold pockets for supporting the pallet and plastic mix thereon, a cam track disposed beneath the turntable, a roller attached to said yoke member and adapted to ride on said cam track during the circuit of said turntable, said cam track being arranged to force said lift rods gradually upwardly in the mold pockets, whereby the pallet bearing the finished molded product is raised out of the mold pocket at the location of the conveyor means, and to thereafter lower the lift rods downwardly to deposit the pallet bearing the finished molded product on the conveyor means, said cam track having a raised section immediately beneath said vibrating trowel plate whereby the pallet bearing the plastic mix is forced upward into a pressure contact with said trowel plate.

5. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, hopper means located at a predetermined point in the circuit of 'saidturntableoperative to; inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, and meansfor discharging the finished molded product comprising a conveyor means situated at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable, a plurality of lift rods supported by a yoke member and entering the bottom of each of said mold pockets for supporting the pallet .and plastic mix thereon, a cam track disposed beneath the turntable, a roller attached to said yoke member and adapted to ride on said cam track during the circuit of said turntable, said cam track being arranged to force said lift rods gradually upwardly in the mold pockets, whereby the pallet bearing the finished molded product is raised out of the mold pocket at the location of the conveyor means, and to thereafter lower the lift rods downwardly to deposit the pallet bearing the finished molded product on the con veyor means.

6. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having .a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, hopper means located at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means cooperatively associated with said hopper means for vibrating the mix in said mold pockets by way of the mix in said hopper, said vibrator means including a vibrating trowel plate extending substantially parallel to the upper face of said turntable and operative to concurrently vibrate and trowel the mix in the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder, and means including a cam track disposed beneath the turntable for discharging the pallet bearing the finished molded product from the mold pocket at a predetermined point in the circuit of said turntable.

7. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a mold plate having a plurality of spaced mold pockets formed therein, means for moving said mold plate and pockets in a definite path, means operative during the circuit of said mold plate for the insertion of a pallet in each of said mold pockets, means located in the path of said mold pockets operative to inject a suitable plastic mix into each of said mold pockets, vibrator means including a vibrating trowel plate disposed substantially parallel to the upper face of said mold plate operative to concurrently vibrate and trowel the mix in the mold pockets as the same pass thereunder, and means for discharging the finished molded product comprising a cam track disposed adjacent the path of said mold plate, a plurality of lift rods supported by a yoke member and entering the bottom of each of said mold pockets for supporting the pallet and plastic mix thereon, and a roller attached to said yoke member and riding on said cam track, said cam track having a raised portion immediately adjacent the vibrating trowel plate whereby the pallet bearing the plastic mix is forced upward into pressure contact with said trowel plate.

8. In an artificial building stone molding machine, a rotating turntable having a plurality of mold pockets formed therein, means operative during the circuit of said turntable for the inthe mam pdckete as the Seine pass thereunder,

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